Challenges to Soviet Control and the End of the Cold War I. Early Cold War A. Eastern European Soviet Control 1. In the early years of the Cold War, Eastern European nations (Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, East Germany and Poland) all fell under the Soviet sphere of influence. a) One party, communist rule, dependent on the USSR b) Nationalization of private enterprise c) Collectivization of agriculture d) Integration of economies with the USSR 2. Harsh policies supported by soviet controls, censorship, suppression of religious freedom, presence of Soviet Troops B. Attempts to resist this control 1. Yugoslavia a) Led by communist Josef Broz Tito, Yugoslavia successfully liberated their own country from Nazi control in 1945. b) Liberation not tied to the USSR and he still wanted economic contacts with the west including the US. c) By 1948, the USSR ceased partnership with Yugoslavia. (1) Stalin led purges of Titoists' in other East European Satellite nations. Not all anti-stalinists/anti-soviets would be purged. 2. East Germany, 1953 a) Worker revolt over high production targets (dictated by the USSR) in June 1953. (1) 1st mass protests within the Soviet sphere (2) Quickly supressed by the Red Army 3. Khrushchev and Destalinization a) Khrushchev s speech, while strengthening his position in the USSR, it weakened his authority elsewhere. b) Restored relations with Tito, claiming Stalin did not understand the situation.
(1) Other Eastern Bloc nations viewed this as an opportunity to go their own way with communism too. (2) Polish Workers revolt in June 1956 resulting in political compromise between the USSR and Poland (3) Hungarian riots of 1956 went even farther. (a) After replacing their stalinst leader with a more moderate one, with hopes of being a neutral state, the Red Army launched at attack against Hungary. (b) After 20,000 Hungarian dead, it would be brought back under Soviet control. (4) Little US interaction as the Suez Crisis was occurring at the same time. c) Results (1) US out of Soviet business within its sphere (2) Warsaw pact based on force rather than voluntary participation like NATO. 4. Brezhnev and the challenge of Czechoslovakia a) Dissatisfaction with the repressive Czech regime came to a head in 1968 in the Prague Spring (1) New leader, Alexander Dubcek promised reform, modernization and liberalization. b) USSR responded with force. August 1968, Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia installing a new government. c) This action laid out the Brezhnev Doctrine: Communist parties not just responsible for their own people, but for all socialist countries. Therefore, collective action against any threat was justified. d) Damaging to the Socialist movement. 5. The Challenge from Poland in the 1980s a) Dissatisfaction and poor ecomonic conditions resulted in protests in Poland in the late 70s. b) 1980-Gdansk shipyards went on strike led by Lech Walesa and leading to an independent trade union: Solidarity. (1) Seen as a threat by the USSR. Martial law declared in Poland. 6. Afghanistan a) Brezhnev Doctrine in action. b) Soviet supported government under threat from Muslim fighters called the Mujahadin (1) Afghan leadership also looked towards the CIA, which angered the USSR. c) Soviets invade (1) Did not want Afghanistan to look like Iran
II. (2) Did not want US presence in the region. (3) Maintenance of power position. d) American Results (1) Carter Doctrine: pledged US interaction if Soviets threatened the Persian Gulf (2) Resist the Soviets by proxy-support the Muhahedin (3) Aid increased during the Reagan administration. e) Hugely costly to the Soviets who ultimately pulled out in 1988 as Gorbachev saw the money more useful on the domestic front. Collapse of the USSR and the End of the Cold War A. The impact of Mikhail Gorbachev 1. Recognized that Government spending on military could not continue 2. Two key reforms a) Perestroika: Restructuring the economy b) Glasnost: The government should be open to public scrutiny 3. He knew the USSR could not meet the SDI threat. a) Negotiations with US rather than matching production. b) Chernobyl disaster only emphasized Gorbachev s stance on Nuclear weapons. 4. Would meet with Reagan in 4 summits from 85-88 a) Geneva-Nov 85: Limiting threat of nuclear war b) Reykjavik-10-86: Continued Arms control talks c) Washington-12-87:Abolish shorter range Nuclear weapons. d) Moscow-5-88Arms reductions talks continue-reagan said the USSR was no longer the Evil Empire. 5. 1988, USSR withdrew from Afghanistan as well as reduction of aid to third world nations B. The Role of Ronald Reagan 1. Some point out Reagan s importance with regard to his hard-line stance in the early 80s. 2. His leadership and willing to work with Gorbachev crucial.
3. This reagan school argues that Detente was a failure and these actions could have been taken in the 70s. C. Long-term factors in ending the Cold War 1. Massive soviet spending on military and foreign policy a) USSR parity with the USA was extremely costly. b) Lack of spending on consumer goods and the domestic economy. 2. Industrial output declining and morale was low. a) High absenteeism and chronic alcoholism 3. This school argues that detente was a success and fermented the weakness of the USSR. 4. Nationionalist movements in Satellite states a) Poland: Under Gorbachev, Solidarity was made legal in 1988 and reforms were introduced. (1) Communists defeated in popular vote in 1989. Gorbachev did not intervene and Polish Communism collapsed. b) East Germany: With living standards far below those of the West (1) East Germans still attempting to esacape into the West (Hungary to Austria) (2) Gorbachev made it clear that he would not intervene (3) Protests in East Germany grew-government eased travel restrictions. (a) Thousands of East Berliners saw this as an end to the Berlin Wall and stormed it on 9 November 1989. (4) Free elections held in 1990 and reunification won the day. (5) East and West Germany reunified in October 1990. c) Hungary (1) Hungarian Communist Party offered its own reforms offering free elections in 1990. d) Czechoslovakia (1) Downfall of the communists in the Velvet Revolution as there was little violence. (2) Government forced into reform and dissident leader Vaclav Havel became new president. USSR promised not to intervene. e) Romania (1) Far more violent against protestors than Czechoslovakia as Nikolai Ceausescu attempted to repressively hold onto power. Eventually the army turned on them. D. End of the USSR
1. Failure to bring an improvement to the nations economic woes led to Gorbachev s growing unpopularity. a) Eastern European events led to calls for independence from Sovievt republics. 2. During 1991, the USSR fell apart, starting with the Baltic States in 1991. 3. 25 Dec 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the USSR officially ended. E. Immediate Impacts: 1. Communism in crisis around the world a) Cuba, NK, China and Vietnam with the latter two offering capitalist economic reforms. 2. Cuba s economy without Soviet aid crumbled. 3. African states that relied on the USSR were in crisis.